islcollective worksheets preintermediate a2 intermediate b1 adults high school reading verb patterns verbs state verbs a 50737766555f49d1c976376 04410141

Most stative or state verbs refer to a state rather than action. Stative
verbs are verbs which we use in the Present Simple, even if they are
happening now.
Example: Now, I know the answer!

agree / disagree
appear

However, in situations where they refer to an action which is taking
place at that moment, we use the Present Continuous tense.
Examples: I think that coffee is great (= have an opinion)
I’m thinking about my next holiday. (= have in my head)

believe
belong to
can’t stand

Certain stative verbs change their meaning when they are used in the
Present Continuous.
Examples: I’m seeing Tom tomorrow. (= meet)
I see what you mean. (= understand)

cost
dislike / like
doubt

Sometimes stative verbs are used in the present continuous
emphasize change or development. This use is informal.
Example: You are being very naughty, Tom! Behave yourself!

enjoy

fancy
feel

to

(also have an opinion)

fit

There
There are
are three
three main
main categories
categories of
of stative
stative verbs
verbs (feelings,
(feelings,
thoughts
and
senses)
and
two
small
categories
thoughts and senses) and two small categories (possession
(possession and
and
measurement).

measurement).
Complete
Complete the
the charts
charts below
below with
with the
the right
right stative
stative verbs
verbs from
from the
the
box
box on
on the
the left
left according
according to
to their
their categories.
categories.

guess
hate
have
hear
hope
know

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

love

_____________

_____________

_____________

matter

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

prefer

_____________

_____________

_____________

possess

_______________

_______________

_______________

___________

___________

___________

lack
look

(also = seem)

mean
measure

(= be long)

(not) mind

owe
own
realise

_____________

remember

_____________

see

(meet

/

_____________

____________

seem

_____________

smell

____________

_____________

_______________

_____________

_________

understand)

sound
suppose
taste
think

(=consider)

touch

understand
want
weigh
wish
wonder

_____________

____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________

_____________
adore, astonish, bet

_____________
_____________

(opinion),
contain, concern, consist of, decide, deny, deserve,
desire, detest, imagine, impress, include, involve,
please,

promise,

recognise,

remain,

resemble, satisfy, surprise, suspect...

require,


Complete
Complete the
the sentences
sentences with
with the
the verbs
verbs in
in brackets.
brackets. Use
Use the
the
Present
Present Simple
Simple or
or the
the Present
Present Continuous.
Continuous. Decide
Decide if
if the
the verb
verb
refers

refers to
to aa state
state or
or an
an action.
action.

agree / disagree
appear
believe

We ______________________ of going on holiday next month.

belong to

Where ____________________ (you) we should go? (think)

can’t stand

Dad

cost

_____________________

the

soup.

I’m

sure

it

_____________ very good. (taste)

dislike / like

He

doubt

__________________

at

the

book

now.

It

_________________ interesting. (look)

enjoy

________________________ (he) the tomatoes now? How much

fancy

_________________________ (they)? (weigh)

feel

Our friends ________________________ a new swimming pool.

(also have an opinion)

fit

They _______________________ a pool party this Sunday.
(have)

guess
hate

Complete
Complete the
the sentences
sentences with
with the
the correct
correct form
form of
of the
the verbs
verbs in

in
brackets.
Use
the
Present
Simple
or
Present
Continuous.
brackets. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

have
hear
hope
know

Why ____________________________ (those boys / smile) at

lack

us? ________________________ (we / know) them?

look

I ___________________________ (enjoy) this summer holiday!

(also = seem)

I _______________________ (not want) it to end.

love

On annual White Nights, many museums and lots of shops

matter

____________________________ (stay) open all night.

mean
measure

My parents _________________________ (let) me use the car

(= be long)

tomorrow.

(not) mind

How much ___________________________ (your dog / weigh)?

prefer

Elizabeth __________________________ (know) where the new

possess

cinema ___________________ (be).

owe

A:

own

Jack?
B: No, I _______________ (think) it __________________

realise

(belong)

remember
see

(meet

understand)

/

to Debbie.
A: Bill usually ________________________ (enjoy) his work.
B: Yes, but he ___________________________ (not enjoy)

seem

it now

smell

because he’s got too much to do.

sound
suppose

A: Why _____________________________ (you / taste) the
milk?

taste
think

__________________________ (this laptop / belong) to

B:

strange.

(=consider)

___________________________ (you / want) to taste

touch
understand
want
weigh
wish
wonder

Because it _______________________ (smell) rather

it?
A: Susan _________________________ (talk) to her boyfriend
on
the phone at the moment.
B:

I can tell. She _______________________ (look) very

excited.


job.
Please be quiet. You __________________ (be) too much noisy!
I _____________________________ (feel) that you are wrong.
I ___________________________ (see) Anne this afternoon at
5.
We _____________________ (have) an interesting conversation!

Most stative or state verbs refer to a state rather than action. Stative
verbs are verbs which we use in the Present Simple, even if they are
happening now.
Example: Now, I know the answer!

agree / disagree
appear

However, in situations where they refer to an action which is taking
place at that moment, we use the Present Continuous tense.
Examples: I think that coffee is great (= have an opinion)

I’m thinking about my next holiday. (= have in my head)

believe
belong to
can’t stand

Certain stative verbs change their meaning when they are used in the
Present Continuous.
Examples: I’m seeing Tom tomorrow. (= meet)
I see what you mean. (= understand)

cost
dislike / like
doubt

Sometimes stative verbs are used in the present continuous
emphasize change or development. This use is informal.
Example: You are being very naughty, Tom! Behave yourself!

enjoy
fancy
feel

to

(also have an opinion)

fit

There

There are
are three
three main
main categories
categories of
of stative
stative verbs
verbs (feelings,
(feelings,
thoughts
and
senses)
and
two
small
categories
thoughts and senses) and two small categories (possession
(possession and
and
measurement).
measurement).
Complete
Complete the
the charts
charts below
below with
with the
the right
right stative
stative verbs

verbs from
from the
the
box
box on
on the
the left
left according
according to
to their
their categories.
categories.

guess
hate
have
hear
hope
know

agree /disagree

__can’t stand_

___appear______

___believe______

__dislike / like_

____feel_______

love

___doubt______

____enjoy______

_

matter

____feel_______

____fancy______

____hear_______

____guess______

_____hate______

_____look______

(not) mind

____hope_______

_____love______

_____see_______

prefer

____know______

__not mind_____

____smell_______

possess

____look_______

____prefer_____

____sound_____

___matter______

_____want_____

____taste______

lack
look

(also = seem)

mean

measure

(= be long)

owe
own

____mean______

realise
remember
see

(meet

understand)

seem
smell
sound
suppose

___realise______
/

___belong to__

__remmeber____

____cost_____

_____see_______

____fit_______

____seem______

___measure___

___suppose_____

____weigh_____

_____have_____
_____lack_____
____possess___
______owe____
____own______

____think_____

taste
think

____touch_____

(=consider)

touch
understand

want
weigh
wish
wonder

__understand__
____wish______
____wonder___

adore, astonish, bet
(opinion),
contain, concern, consist of, decide, deny, deserve,
desire, detest, imagine, impress, include, involve,
please,

promise,

recognise,

remain,

resemble, satisfy, surprise, suspect...

require,


Complete
Complete the
the sentences
sentences with

with the
the verbs
verbs in
in brackets.
brackets. Use
Use the
the
Present
Present Simple
Simple or
or the
the Present
Present Continuous.
Continuous. Decide
Decide if
if the
the verb
verb
refers
refers to
to aa state
state or
or an
an action.
action.

agree / disagree
appear
believe

We _____are thinking__________ of going on holiday next month.

belong to

Where ____do you think________ (you) we should go? (think)

can’t stand

Dad

cost

______is

tasting_______

the

soup.

I’m

sure

it

___tastes____ very good. (taste)

dislike / like

He ____is looking______ at the book now. It _____looks_______

doubt

interesting. (look)

enjoy

___Is he weighing_______ (he) the tomatoes now? How much

fancy

____do they weigh_______ (they)? (weigh)

feel

Our friends _______have___________ a new swimming pool. They

(also have an opinion)

fit

____are having________ a pool party this Sunday. (have)

guess
hate

Complete
Complete the
the sentences

sentences with
with the
the correct
correct form
form of
of the
the verbs
verbs in
in
brackets.
Use
the
Present
Simple
or
Present
Continuous.
brackets. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

have
hear
hope
know

Why ___are those boys smiling_____ (those boys / smile) at us?

lack

__Do you know________ (we / know) them?

look

I ___am

(also = seem)

(enjoy) this

summer holiday! I

____don’t want_______ (not want) it to end.

love

On annual White Nights, many museums and lots of shops

matter

_____stay____________ (stay) open all night.

mean
measure

enjoying_______

My parents _________________________ (let) me use the car

(= be long)

tomorrow.

(not) mind

How much ___does your dog weigh___ (your dog / weigh)?

prefer

Elizabeth ______knows_______________ (know) where the new

possess

cinema ______is_______ (be).

owe

A: __Does this laptop belong__ (this laptop / belong) to Jack?
B: No, I ____think______ (think) it _____belongs_____

own

(belong)

realise

to Debbie.

remember
see

(meet

understand)

seem

A: Bill usually ________________________ (enjoy) his work.
B: Yes, but he ___doesn’t enjoy___________ (not enjoy) it
now
because he’s got too much to do.

smell

A: Why ___are you tasting_________ (you / taste) the milk?

sound
suppose
taste
think

/

B: Because it ___smells__________ (smell) rather strange.
__Do you want____________ (you / want) to taste it?
A: Susan ___is talking____________ (talk) to her boyfriend on

(=consider)

touch
understand
want

weigh
wish
wonder

the phone at the moment.
B: I can tell. She ____looks___________ (look) very excited.
David ____is thinking________ (think) about getting the job.
Please be quiet. You ___are being______ (be) too much noisy!
I _______feel_______________ (feel) that you are wrong.
I _______am seeing__________ (see) Anne this afternoon at 5.
We _____are having_____ (have) an interesting conversation!